Any ideas on how to feed a family of two on only about 5 dollars?!
Any ideas on how to feed a family of two on only about 5 dollars?
btw one of us is a vegetarian
(i'm so tired of being broke all the time)
1 month ago
maybe i should have been more specific my son as acid reflux and really shouldn't be eating fast food and i'm a vegetarian so i can't eat anything off the dollar menu and no i can't get fries because they cook them in animal fat thank you
Answers:
1 month ago
maybe i should have been more specific my son as acid reflux and really shouldn't be eating fast food and i'm a vegetarian so i can't eat anything off the dollar menu and no i can't get fries because they cook them in animal fat thank you
Cook! You'll get much more value for your money than you will at any fast food restaurant. You can make many nutritious veggie meals for under 5 dollars. That's my usual budget. Try stuff like beans and rice with veggies, pasta, vegetable stir fries, and fajitas or burritos. If the omnivore wants meat, just cook it separately and add it in later. Staying away from packaged meals and processed foods will keep your costs down as well. Stick with fresh fruit and veg and low cost staples like rice, pasta, and beans. Cheap forms of protein are beans and lentils. Buy them in bulk to save money in the long run. If you have a co-op in your city, check it out. They usually have really good prices, and some offer low-income discounts if you qualify. One of my favorite low cost meals is bean burgers made with canned beans, brown rice, onions, garlic, and spices. Just mash it all up, form it into patties and bake, grill, or pan fry. Try this website for lots of veggie recipes. You can also check out cookbooks from your local library, and there are quite a few that specialize in meals on a budget.
Source(s):
http://www.vegweb.com
99 cent value menus everywhere these days! Also, you could just buy a cheap loaf of bread, cheap brand of cold-cut, and maybe even a big bag of chips! So many combinations and possibilities!
Dollar menus at fast food places.
I can eat out @ Del Taco with my 2 grrls and I for $5.. .99 cent 1/2 lb bean and cheese burrittos(mmmm) with the green sauce.... And my grrls are young so they eat the smaller .79 bean & cheese burritto.. add some of their crinkle cut fries and mmmm The beans are veggie friendly.. oh and don't forget the Del Sorcho!!! mm so good I wish they would bottle it!!
I am broke all the time too.. Poor single mama!! ~peAce luv~
Spend 4 dollars at Taco Bell! Burritos and Tacos only and spend the last dollar on a lotto ticket! I am soooo tired of the same thing!
Hi, you can get tofu fairly cheap, for around $2 if you look around. You could buy a few vegetables and maybe make it into a stir fry. The other family member who isn't a vegetarian might even like it too.
Pasta with veggies. Fast food will only cost more in medical bills after a while. It will also make you fat which will cost you more in gas by carrying a heavy load.
Macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, pasta side dishes as main dish or the asian rice sides as main dish...both are Lipton I believe, but cheap, soups (chunky has quite a variety)...a bowl of cereal....Spaghetti (noddles and a jar of sauce is under $5) also in a pinch I have taken pasta shells and pour in cans of diced tomatoes, sprinkle cheese over top and bake till cheese melts...not to bad...been where you are for quite sometime...not easy thinkin up something different and cheap...
Scrambled eggs, a chopped jalapeno, and a chopped tomato, eaten with hot corn tortillas. That would cost probably $2 for the whole family.
Bean and potato nachos: 1 can refried beans, a bag of tortilla chips, a boiled potato, and some shredded cheese.
Dice the potato. Spread warmed refried beans on chips. Top with diced potato, then shredded cheese. Bake until cheese is melted. This'll probably use up the $5.
Pasta lenticche.
Cook lentils, then add some chopped onions, garlic, tomato, olive oil, and simmer 20 minutes. Add tubetti or ditalini or some other small pasta like small shells, and eat with parmesean cheese if you like that. This'll cost $2 for the family.
Stuffed shells:
Box of large shells. A pound of ricotta. 8oz mozzerella. 1T dry basil. 1cup parmesean. One egg. 1 jar marinara sauce.
Mix cheeses, egg and basil together. Cook shells. Drain. Fill shells with cheese mixture, and pour sauce over. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. This'll use up your $5.
Orrechiete with broccoli:
Steam fresh broccoli for 2 minutes. cool.
Cook a bag of colavita brand orrechiette (little ears...they look like "quisp" cereal from the 70's)
Heat olive oil in a large saute pan. Add a clove of crushed garlic, stir one minute, then add the broccoli and pasta and a handful of sliced green olives and a little red pepper flakes if you like spicy. Turn heat up to high, and toss til the pasta browns in some spots. You can add 1/2 cup wine if you have some around, but it isn't important. Eat sprinkled with parmesean cheese.
Okay, now here is my lifesaving easy delicious dinner.
Get a rotisserie chicken (3.99 where I live) (or cook your own for less$$).
Get a jar of mexican jalepenos en escabeche.
Buy a couple limes.
Shred the chicken and the skin. Saute in oil until it starts to get a little brown in spots. Put some jalapenos and juice from the can into the chicken. Add 1/2 cup water, lower heat, and simmer until water starts to disappear. Squeeze limes over the chicken, and eat it with hot corn tortillas. This will cost $5 or more, but you can eat it for 2 days.
I love to eat, so I have found the cheapest ways to eat well.
make everything from scratch.
with a bag of flour you could make alot of pasta or bake several loaves of breads.
Also you can also boy oats in. Its a bland but nutritious meal.
Have you considered having your son tested for food allergies? Thats often a cause of reflux and other digestive issues. You can make a great meal very inexpensively with stir fried brown rice and veggies, or black beans and rice. Add a little baking soda to the beans to prevent stomach upset in your son. Quinoa would be very good for him-very easy to digest, complete protein and great substitute for wheat in making muffins. Its great as a hot breakfast cereal too. Email me if you need more details or if you want to know how to not be broke all of the time (dont worry, I dont sell anything)
why is everyone answering with fast food she said she is veg and son has acid reflux for 5 dollars at family dollar where i work you can get a loaf of bread lunch meat and a pack of ramen noodles or a million other things
There are so many possibilities! Here are a few:
Pinto beans and corn bread with fried potatoes is a traditional southern meal. (Also VERY cheap!)
Or you could make a cassarole with any pasta, a can of mushroom soup, and whatever veggies you have on hand (canned, frozen or fresh).
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with some fruit for dessert.
Salads can be cheap if you shop wisely. Add some boiled eggs or beans and you have your protien!
Oatmeal is great for breakfast or dinner. Add some fruit to it and maybe some cinnamon for flavor. Plus you can bake cookies with it, too.
Omlets are good for you and you can add any veggy or cheese to them.
Pancakes (from bisquick) are yummy and you can use it to make other stuff, too. (I used to make upside down pineapple cake with it.)
Hope this helped- I have been there and these are great cheap ideas without the meat....
I would go shopping and build up your supplies. I tried something called the grocery game a few months ago, and it taught me some valuable things.
One: Warehouses are not always cheaper
Two: Not all sales in supermarkets are values
Three: Buy bulk in the supermarket when possible
Four: Clip the coupons and save them for sales.
It takes about three months to build up coupons and inventory, but I found I was buying and spending less. For example when popcorn was on sale for $1.00(marked down from $3.00, I bought about 10. I have not had to buy popcorn in 6 months and I still have some left.
There is currently a one month trial for free, it gives you the basics. I did the three month trial and stopped, but still use the concept.
http://www.thegrocerygame.com/
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, complete meal
vegetable soup and crackers , some cheese
Bake your own potatoes.